Care groups run in 3 semester terms per year: from mid-January to mid-March,

from mid-March to mid-May, and from mid-September to early December.

What is a Caregroup?

This is available as a pamphlet at the church.

A Small Group can also be referred to as a Care Group. It consists of as many as twelve people who meet regularly for the purpose of building friendships, spiritual renewal and meeting needs in the church and community.

The prayer of the Care Group is taken from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians:

Today we kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.We pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.We prayer that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
Ephesians 3: 14-21

Care Groups care about people first. The learning and activities compliment the groups as they become rooted and established in Christ's love for each other. It is the intention that the caring they experience as a group overflows into the church family and community. To assist the caring of people, each Care Group has a Leader who is a care giver and co-ordinator for the group. Each of our Care Group Leaders has been chosen because of their leadership skills, their passion for God and compassion for people. They receive training on leading groups and being effective care givers.

The mandate of a Care Group is to work together to grasp the volume of Christ's love. As a group they have a three part purpose; to grow together (mature), to learn valuable skills for serving God (equip) and to spread the love of Jesus in their community (share) as they are filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Want to start a caregroup?

If you want to start a small group the ministry staff wants to support you. The first thing that you need to do is find four to six people other people who are not presently part of a Care Group and wish to meet weekly for fellowship, prayer and study. The next step is to decide on a location to hold your weekly Care Group. The final step is to speak with the Pastor who will assist you in putting together a start-up plan for your Care Group that will include a Care Group Leader and an Instructor.

Join a Small Group...
¤ Everyone in the church family is encouraged to be part of a Care Group. These types of groups were employed during the early years of Methodism. They are proven effective methods of growing in your relationship with God. As the Small Group ministry continues to evolve there will certainly be a group in which you can feel comfort and become part.

Lead a Small Group...
¤ Leaders of Care Groups can be Care Group Leaders, Instructors or Hosts (people who offer the use of their home for the weekly gathering). If you sense a call to being a Leader, you can make an appointment to speak with the Pastor who will help you discern this calling and will provide you with information about leadership at the North Grenville Community Church.

Be a Small Group...
¤ In a perfect world everyone would belong to a Small Group. We don't live in a perfect world. This doesn't mean that you can't mature in your faith, equip yourself to better serve God or find meaningful ways of sharing your faith with others. Everyone should set goals in these areas and find a friend with whom they can be accountable.